Augmentation of molecular machines with new functionalities

DNA/RNA聚合酶、核糖体和酶等分子机器对每个活细胞的功能都是至关重要的，它们支撑着涵盖遗传密码表达和新陈代谢协调的关键任务。当设计生物学时，通常需要用新的功能来补充这些核心活动--以所需的方式“增强”生物学。虽然与能够提供新功能的蛋白质融合有时可以实现这一目标，但这种方法缺乏灵活性，无法提供一种快速而简单的方法来切换所需的功能。它通常也不允许在分子机器本身的结构中放置新的功能。

Molecular machines like DNA/RNA polymerases, ribosomes and enzymes are central to the function of every living cell, underpinning critical tasks covering the expression of the genetic code to coordination of metabolism. When engineering biology there is often the need to supplement these core activities with new functionalities - "augmenting" the biology in a desired way. While fusion with a protein able to provide the new function can sometimes achieve this goal, this approach is inflexible and doesn't offer a quick and easy way to switch the desired function. It is also doesn't generally allow for placement of a new functionality within the structure of the molecular machine itself.